Combined draft and buffing gear



June 9, W36- H. J. LOUNSBURY ET AL I COMBINED DRAFT AND BUFF'ING GEAR Filed Sept. 1, 1952 //71/@/? fans Harvey J Amman/2y Jam) H. L/W/f Patented June 9, 1936 UNITE STATES OFFICE COMBINED DRAFT AND BUFFING GEAR Application September 1, 1932, Serial No. 631,392

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in combined draft and buffing gears.

One object of the invention is to provide a combined draft and boiling gear, especially adapted for use in connection with mine cars, of simple and rugged design, comprising a buffing head and a draft member acting on yielding means to absorb bufiing and draft shocks.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the number of elements of a combined draft and bufiing gear of the character described in the preceding paragraph by employing the same shock absorbing means to yieldingly resist the movement of both the buffing head and draft member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a. combined draft and bufling gear in connection with which proper and efficient operation and long life are ensured by the use of interengaging guide means between the movable buffing head, the draft member, and the structure by which the parts are supported.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims herein after following.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specifi cation, Figure 1 is a partly broken, top plan View of one end of a mine car, illustrating my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a front end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1. vertical sectional views, corresponding respectively to the lines 3-45 and i-4 of Figure 1.

In said drawing, it indicates one end portion of a mine car, the bottom structure of which is in the form of a one-piece casting H, which is continuous from end to end of the car.

Our improved combined draft and buffing gear comprises broadly a movable buffing head A, a draft member B, and a spring resistance C, all supported on the casting I I.

In carrying out our invention, we preferably provide the casting ii at each end thereof with a housing i2 formed integral therewith. Each housing l2 is defined by spaced top and bottom walls l3 and M and spaced vertical side walls I 5-!5 projecting from the end wall of the casting, which end wall, as shown, is disposed vertically and is indicated by H6. The housing is also provided with a pocket ll extending inwardly of the car from the wall it. The pocket is disposed midway between the top and bottom walls of the housing and extends laterally of said housing. As most clearly shown in Figures 2, 3, and4, the pocket l I is centrally enlarged, as indi- And Figures 3 and .4 are cated at l8, to properly accommodate the draft member B for movement.

, The buffing head A has top and bottomwalls l9 and 20, vertical side walls 2 I--2 I, and a vertical front wall 22 presenting a curved outer buffing face 23. The bufiing head A is also provided with a rearwardly extending guide projection 24 midway between the top and bottom walls of the bufiing head and extending from one side to the other of said head. As most clearly shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the projection 24 is provided with a horizontal slot 25 extending from one side to the other of the buffing head so as to accommodate the usual coupling link 26. As will be seen, the arrangement of the slot 25 provides for swinging movement of the link 26 to a position at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the car so that the link will not project forwardly of the bufling head. The rear face of the projection 24, which face is indicated by 27, forms abutment means for the forward ends of the spring members composing the spring resistance C. A coupling pin for connecting the draft member B to the link 26 is indicated by 28 and is of such a length as to extend entirely through the buffing head A. The top and bottom arms I 9 and 20 and the projection 24 of the buffing head are provided with aligned slots 2929 accommodating the pin 28, said slots extending in a direction lengthwise of the car.

The draft member B is in the form of a U- shaped yoke having spaced, horizontally extending, top and bottom arms 3ll--3il connected by a vertical section 3| at their rear ends. The arms 39-30 slidingly embrace the projection 24 of the bufling head A, thereby guiding the forward end of the yoke. The rear end of the yoke extends into the enlarged section [8 of the pocket I! and is guided by the top and bottom walls of said section. Rearward movement of the yoke is limited by engagement with the vertical rear end wall of. the pocket, which end wall is designated by 32. The forward ends of the top and bottom arms 30-33 of the yoke are normally spaced from the vertical front wall 22 of the buffing head, as clearly shown in Figure 3. The parts are so proportioned that the draft movement of the draft member B will be limited by engagement of the arms 3l93@ with said front wall 22 of the buffing head A. As will be evident upon thereof with the wall 22 of the bufiing head, the pin thus also serving as a stop means. Outward movement of the buiiing head A is limited by securing elements 33-453 in the form of heavy rivets at opposite sides of the housing l2. As clearly indicated in Figure 1, the rivets extend through the top and bottom walls l3 and M of the housing and slots fi t -34 at the rear ends of the top and bottom walls l9 and 20 of the buffing head A. As will be evident, the securing elements 3333 also serve to hold the parts of the mechanism assembled and attached to the housing IS.

The spring resistance means C preferably comprises four coils, two of these coils being indicated by 3535 and being disposed within the yoke or draft member B. As clearly shown in Figure 3, the springs 35 have their rear ends bearing on the vertical section 3| of the yoke and their front ends bearing on the rear face of. the projection 24 of the bufiing head A. The remaining two coils of the spring resistance means are indicated by 3636. The springs 3G--35 are disposed at opposite sides of the yoke B and have their front and rear ends respectively bearing on the projection 24 of the buffing head A and the vertical rear wall of the pocket H.

The operation of our improved combined draft and buffing gear is as follows: Upon a pulling action being applied to the coupling link 26, the yoke B will be pulled outwardly, thereby compressing the two coil springs 3535 against the projection 24 of the buffing head A. At this time the buffing head A is held against outward movement by the securing elements 33-33. Compression of the springs Bil-35 in draft is limited by engagement of the front end of the yoke B with the front end wall 22 of. the buffing head A and engagement of the pin 28 with the front end walls of the slots 29--29 of the buffing head. When a buffing force is applied to the head A, the same is forced rearwardly into the housing l2, thereby compressing the springs 3636 against the rear wall of the pocket I! and compressing the springs 3535 against the rear end section 3| of the yoke. The yoke during this action is held stationary by engagement with the rear wall of the pocket I1. As will be evident, the buffing forces, which are usually greater than the draft forces, will be cushioned by all four of the coils of the spring resistance while the draft action is yieldingly opposed by the two central coils only of the spring resistance means. Inward movement of the bufling head and compression of the four coils of the spring resistance are limited by engagement of the inner end portions of the top and bottom walls of the buffing head with the vertical wall l6 immediately above and below the pocket l1. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the top and bottom walls l9 and 26 of the buffing head are provided with relatively short, vertical flanges 31--3'| at their inner ends, thereby presenting relatively large abutment faces which engage with the abutment faces of the wall I6.

We have herein shown and described what we now consider the preferred manner of carrying out our invention, but the same is merely illustrative and we contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. In a combined draft and buffing gear for cars, the combination with a housing at the end of the car; of a bufling head telescoped within the housing, said head being movable inwardly of the housing; a central yoke having top and bottom arms and a vertical section connecting the rear ends of said arms; a rearwardly extending guide section on the buffing head telescoped between the front ends of the arms of the yoke, said guide section having a central opening to accommodate a coupling member; means for connecting said coupling member to the yoke; and spring resistance means interposed between said guide section and the rear end of the yoke and bearing at opposite ends on the inner end or" the guide section and the vertical section of the yoke.

2. In a combined draft and buffing gear for cars, the combination with a housing at the end of the car; of a buffing head telescoped within the housing, said head being movable inwardly of the housing; a yoke having top and bottom arms connected at their rear ends by a vertical section, said yoke being held against inward movement; a rearwardly extending guide projection on said buffing head telescoped between the arms of the yoke, said guide projection having an outwardly opening slot adapted to ac commodate a coupling link; spring resistance means opposing relative movement of said yoke and bufiing head; and a coupling pin connecting said yoke to the link, said pin extending through the yoke arms and the guide projection of the bufiing head.

3. In a combined draft and bufling gear for cars, the combination with a housing at the end of the car; of a bufiing head telescoped within the housing, said head having top and bottom walls and a rearwardly extending guide projection between said top and bottom walls, said.

top and bottom walls having vertically aligned guide slots extending in a direction lengthwise of the car, said guide projection having guide slots registering with said first named slots, said guide projection also having an outwardly opening horizontal pocket adapted to accommodate a coupling link; a yoke having top and bottom arms slidingly engaging with the top and bottom sides of the guide projection; spring resistance means opposing relative movement of. said bufiing head and yoke; and a pin for connecting said link to the yoke, said pin being fixed to the yoke arms and extending through the link, the slots of the top and bottom Walls of the buffing head, and the slots of said guide projection.

4. In a combined draft and buifing gear for. cars, the combination with a housing at the end of the car, said housing being open at the front end and having a central pocket rearwardly extending therefrom; of a buffing head telescoped within said open end of the housing, said buffing head having an inward projection thereon; a yoke having top and bottom spaced arms embracing said projection and guided thereby, the rear end of said yoke being telescoped within said pocket; a spring resistance opposing relative approach of said yoke and buffing head; and coupling means connected to the yoke.

5. In a combined draft and buffing gear for cars, the combination with a housing at the end of the car, said housing being open at the front end and having a central pocket rearwardly extending therefrom, said housing having abutment faces above and below said pocket; of a bufling head telescoped within said open end of the housing and having its movement inwardly of the housing limited by said abutment faces, said buffing head having an inward projection thereon; a yoke having top and bottom spaced arms embracing said projection and guided thereby, the

rear end of said yoke being telescoped within said pocket; a spring resistance within the yoke bearing on said projection of the buifing head and opposing relative approach of said head and yoke; and means for connecting the yoke to a coupling member.

6. In a combined draft and bufling gear for cars, the combination with a housing at the end of the car, said housing being open at the front end and having a rearwardly extending pocket; of a bufiing head telescoped within the open end of the housing, said buffing head having a vertical front wall and a horizontally slotted central extension rearwardly projecting from said Wall; a yoke telescoped within said pocket, said yoke having top and bottom arms slidingly embracing said projection, said yoke having its outward movement limited by engagement with the front wall of the bufl'lng head; coupling means connected to said yoke; and a spring within the yoke bearing on said extension of the buffing head.

7. In a combined draft and bufling gear for cars, the combination with a housing at the end of the car, said housing being open at the forward end and having a vertical rear wall and top and bottom walls; of a rearwardly projecting pocket on said housing, said pocket having a rear abutment wall; a bufiing head telescoped within the open end of the housing, said buffing head having top and bottom rearwardly extending walls and a vertical front wall, said front Wall presenting a bufilng face, said bufiing head also having a rearwardly extending projection between said top and bottom Walls and spaced therefrom; a yoke having top and bottom arms and a vertical rear end section connecting said arms, said arms slidingly embracing said projection; spring means within the yoke bearing at opposite ends on said connecting section of the yoke and the projection of the bufling head; and additional springs at opposite sides of the yoke having their front ends bearing on said projection of the buffing head, the rear ends of said last named springs extending into the pocket of said housing and bearing on the rear wall of said pocket.

8.. In a combined draft and buffing gear for cars, the combination with supporting means at the end of the car; of a bufli'ng head slidingly carried by said supporting means; a yoke having top and bottom arms; a section connecting the rear ends of said arms; a rearwardly extending pressure-transmitting member on said buffing head guided between the top and bottom arms of the yoke; a central guide opening in said pressuretransmitting member; a pulling element between the arms of the yoke accommodated in the opening of the pulling element; means connecting said pulling element to the yoke; stop means on the supporting means limiting inward movement of the yoke; and shock absorbing spring means within the yoke bearing at opposite ends on the inner end of said pressure-transmitting member and the connecting section of the yoke arms.

9. In a combined draft and bufiing gear for a car, the combination with a supporting casing; of a yoke extending into said casing, said yoke having top and bottom arms; a buffing head telescoped within the casing and enclosing said yoke arms, said head having top and bottom interior recesses accommodating the forward end sections of said yoke arms, said head also having a coupling link receiving opening between said arms; yielding means opposing relative movement of the yoke and head; and a coupling pin extending through said buffing head and the arms of the yoke, said pin intersecting the coupling link receiving opening of the bufiing head.

10. In a combined draft and bufiing gear for a car, the combination with a supporting member on the end of the car; of a yoke movable lengthwise of the car, said yoke having top and bottom arms; a bufiing head enclosing said yoke arms, said head being slidingly mounted on said supporting member, said head also having a coupling link receiving opening between said arms; cushioning means yieldingly opposing relative movement of the yoke and bufiing head; and a coupling pin anchored to the yoke, said pin extending through the arms of the yoke and intersecting the coupling link receiving opening of the buifing head.

11. In a combined draft and bufiing gear for a car, the combination with a supporting member; of a movable hollow buffing head having top and bottom walls and spring abutment means between said walls, said head being movable on said member; means for restricting outward movement of the buffing head with respect to said member; a yoke slidable with respect to said member, said yoke having forwardly projecting arms disposed between the top and bottom walls of the bufling head and embracing the spring abutment of said head; spring means within the yoke bearing on said abutment means and opposing relative movement of the yoke and said head;

and a pin extending through the arms of said yoke and the top and bottom walls of the bufling head for limiting relative movement of the yoke and head.

HARVEY J. LOUNSBURY. JOHN H. LINK. 

